Okay - some hints. I am a professional piano tech, first. After doing many repairs with ivory, I strongly urge you NOT to use glues to attach the ivories! Problems include discoloring, cupping, etc. Piano supply sites online sell special glue tape. It is strong, does not affect the ivory and is easy to handle. It only can be found at Steve's Piano Service website. There is also a double-stick tape for this. The glue tape is better, I do pre-paint the wood so the translucent color of the keytop is maintained (wood untreated will show as a darker key color).
Additional Pro-Tip: I use PVC-E Glue (found through Schaff, PianoTek and a few other piano supply companies) to glue key tops. Super Glue could potentially discolor the key top from underneath by chemically reacting with residual glue or key top material. This issue doesn't always happen, but I've seen it ruin many key tops in other instances. PVC-E Glue is "like" (but not) a rubber cement. It is strong, chemically benign, easy to clean (before it dries), dries clear, and is pliable which allows the wooden key to swell and contract with seasonal humidity changes without the key top popping off.
I agree with supernerdsarah. Where are these links to the replacement key tops? I can't seem to find them anywhere on the internet. Let alone your site.
glad that I came across this I didn t find the link from where to buy them. can I get them online please ? they come in pieces or in a set of certain amounts? thank you so much regards Tania
What material would you suggest as padding underneath the ivory cap? I have a cap that is slightly thinner than the rest of the key cap, creating a palpable ridge. Any tips, thoughts, suggestions?
I would suggest, a synthetic paper thin plastic layer, which should not be too hard to find like a plastic floppy kitchen cutting sheet from dollar tree sanded down... That or a thin sheet of gold pounded out by ancient Egyptians
First, take the key(s) out of the piano. Get a flat surface to work on and with a sanding stick sand the surface clean, Use cheap rubber gloves and a small tube of contact cement. Ivories that you are gluing do just the right side.Not too much. Contact cement on the wood surface of the key.Then put the keys back in the piano. If it is several keys, number them. Line up the ivories with your fingers and eyes and press down on all sides. I've replaced hundreds of ivories this way. CA glue can turn into a mess and wood glue takes too long. Tom Lloyd www.mrtuner.ca
Excuse me people, but why is there any discussion around whether to use dead elephant carcasses to enhance our musical experience slightly? Sickening. All ivory should be replaced/destroyed.
Okay - some hints. I am a professional piano tech, first. After doing many repairs with ivory, I strongly urge you NOT to use glues to attach the ivories! Problems include discoloring, cupping, etc. Piano supply sites online sell special glue tape. It is strong, does not affect the ivory and is easy to handle. It only can be found at Steve's Piano Service website. There is also a double-stick tape for this. The glue tape is better, I do pre-paint the wood so the translucent color of the keytop is maintained (wood untreated will show as a darker key color).
Additional Pro-Tip: I use PVC-E Glue (found through Schaff, PianoTek and a few other piano supply companies) to glue key tops. Super Glue could potentially discolor the key top from underneath by chemically reacting with residual glue or key top material. This issue doesn't always happen, but I've seen it ruin many key tops in other instances. PVC-E Glue is "like" (but not) a rubber cement. It is strong, chemically benign, easy to clean (before it dries), dries clear, and is pliable which allows the wooden key to swell and contract with seasonal humidity changes without the key top popping off.
I agree with supernerdsarah. Where are these links to the replacement key tops? I can't seem to find them anywhere on the internet. Let alone your site.
How can I put jn a lock to ljvkbthe pisnkbtk protect the ivory keys from being removed .
How thick are the new keytops? Could I use a piece of acrylic inlay sheeting for something different?
glad that I came across this
I didn t find the link from where to buy them.
can I get them online please ?
they come in pieces or in a set of certain amounts?
thank you so much
regards
Tania
What happens when the dust from sanding get down in between the keys? How do you prevent that from appending or get it out? Vacuum?
you could take the key out to prevent that from occuring
i noticed you can buy replacement ivory keys on ebay, they take them off old pianos
Not any more. Illegal in NY
What material would you suggest as padding underneath the ivory cap? I have a cap that is slightly thinner than the rest of the key cap, creating a palpable ridge. Any tips, thoughts, suggestions?
I would suggest, a synthetic paper thin plastic layer, which should not be too hard to find like a plastic floppy kitchen cutting sheet from dollar tree sanded down...
That or a thin sheet of gold pounded out by ancient Egyptians
Can you please give me the links to order the key tops?
I'm having trouble finding who supplies the replacement key tops on your website. Could you be more specific where the link is?
Do you know how to clean the yellow color ivory?
Cindy Yan you should polish them
First, take the key(s) out of the piano. Get a flat surface to work on and with a sanding stick sand the surface clean, Use cheap rubber gloves and a small tube of contact cement. Ivories that you are gluing do just the right side.Not too much.
Contact cement on the wood surface of the key.Then put the keys back in the piano. If it is several keys, number them. Line up the ivories with your fingers and eyes and press down on all sides. I've replaced hundreds of ivories this way. CA glue can turn into a mess and wood glue takes too long. Tom Lloyd
www.mrtuner.ca
Thanks Eric!
very cool
What if the whole key is broken? I accidentally broke my E first octave but it remains like a sharp key lenght what do I do?
What's the point in going through the trouble to use ivory if you're going to paint them?? Might as well just use plastic and be done with it!
That poor F and A.
Thank you very much for making this video.I used woodglue.Thanm you fir tgd link.
Repair piano keys
Excuse me people, but why is there any discussion around whether to use dead elephant carcasses to enhance our musical experience slightly? Sickening. All ivory should be replaced/destroyed.